Oestrogens and androgens in blastocoelic fluid and cultures of cells from equine conceptuses of 10-22 days gestation.

The research investigates the levels of hormones oestrogens and androgens in fluid within equine conceptuses (early stage embryos) between 10 and 22 days of development, as well as in cultures of cells extracted from these conceptuses.

Study Method

• The researchers collected six samples of blastocoele fluid, which is a cavity filled with fluid within a blastocyst (an early stage embryo).
• The samples were taken from equine conceptuses (embryos) between 10 and 22 days into gestation.
• These samples were analyzed using radioimmunoassay systems, a technique used to measure the concentration of specific substances, in this case, oestrogens and androgens.
• The researchers also cultured cells from two blastocysts in medium 199 (a nutrient solution for cell growth) with and without horse serum, and analyzed the resulting media for hormone concentrations.

Results

• The radioimmunoassay results for the blastocoele fluid samples revealed fluctuating measurements, but five out of the six samples showed oestrogen levels equivalent to between 1,000 and 70,000 pg/ml and androgen levels from 1,000 to 85,000 pg/ml.
• The values obtained for oestrogen in the cultures of cells from blastocysts were equivalent to at least 8,000 pg/ml on seven out of 11 occasions, and the androgen concentration exceeded 700 pg/ml in nine out of 11 samples.
• In the control media, the concentration of oestrogen and androgen did not exceed 120 and 360 pg/ml respectively.

Interpretation

• The study shows that high levels of oestrogen and androgen hormones can be found in the blastocoele fluid of equine embryos between 10 and 22 days of gestation. This information could provide valuable insights into the hormonal environment of the early stages of equine development.
• The variability in hormones concentration in both the blastocoele fluid and cell cultures indicates that these hormones could be actively produced and regulated during this early developmental stage.
• The difference in hormone levels in the culture medium with and without horse serum suggests that these hormones could play a significant role in the growth and development of embryonic cells.